Pistorius not confident of sprint gold

Oscar Pistorius has admitted he does not fancy his chances of winning the most highly-anticipated race of the London Paralympics.

The Blade Runner's showdown with British sprinter Jonnie Peacock in the T44 100 metres final next Thursday night is the hottest ticket of the Games.

The South African is the defending champion, but the event took a back seat as he focused on his history-making ambition, which he achieved, of qualifying for the Olympics over 400m.

Only last week the 25-year-old raced for the first time over 100m in 16 months.

"I think it's important to note I haven't run a 100m personal best in five years," said Pistorius, who will also race in the 200m, 400m and 4x100m relay in London. "It's not really my event so, although I do feel threatened, I don't feel helpless. As Jonnie and those guys focus on the 100m, my focus is on the 400m, on the opposite side of the spectrum when it comes to sprinting.

"If I can just get in the top three I think I'd be very happy. My focus is on trying to defend my titles, but then I have to be realistic and say the 400m and the 200m are the events I am better suited at."

Pistorius, who will carry the South African flag for the first time at the opening ceremony, revealed he had lost 11 kilograms since the 2008 Beijing Games, but had spent the last three weeks in the gym to bulk up as much as possible for the shorter sprints.

Nineteen-year-old Peacock broke the 100m world record with a run of 10.85 seconds in June and Pistorius admitted his progress has taken him by surprise.

"He improved by more than half a second," he added. "You never see that, especially in the 100m, it just doesn't happen. He is a huge threat."